Mayor Of Southampton Opens Dementia Friendly Garden And Sensory Room At South Haven Lodge

South Haven Lodge care home in Woolston, Southampton, part of Aurem Care, welcomed the Mayor of Southampton, Councillor Dave Shields, to officially open its new dementia friendly garden and sensory room.

The newly designed outdoor space aims to provide a peaceful and engaging environment for residents living with dementia, offering them a safe haven to relax. It includes a yellow pathway to support visually impaired people, which ‘Dorothy and Toto’ took full advantage of at the opening event.

The sensory room has been thoughtfully designed to benefit individuals with dementia or agitative behaviours, helping to promote relaxation and emotional well-being.    For people with dementia a sensory stimulating environment may facilitate interaction between them and their carer enhancing communication on a verbal and non-verbal level. Increasing sensory awareness also supports information processing and raises awareness of the general environment.

Manager of South Haven Lodge, Jan Porter, shared her enthusiasm for the project:
“We’re incredibly proud of our new Dementia friendly garden and sensory room. These spaces have been created with our residents in mind, offering them a peaceful retreat where they can engage with nature and enjoy sensory activities. It’s been heart-warming to see the positive reactions from both residents and their families, and we are so grateful to everyone who made this possible.”